Nominations open for CJID 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards

Deadline: 12-Sep-2026

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has opened applications for the 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards, recognising impactful journalism, investigative excellence, editorial leadership, and reporting that contributes to positive social change. Journalists, fact-checkers, editors, and eligible media organisations across eight West African countries can submit entries across multiple journalism categories. CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards 2026 – Overview The Excellence in Journalism Awards are organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development and are now in their third edition. The awards recognise journalists and editorial leaders whose work demonstrates: Contribution to positive change in communities and society. The 2026 awards cover reporting on issues including fact-checking, health, climate change, environmental protection, solutions journalism, community issues, gender-based violence, social accountability, and human rights. Journalism Award Categories The 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards include multiple categories covering important areas of public-interest journalism.

Categories include:

Best Fact-check Best Health Reporting Best Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Best Solutions Journalism Reporting Best Community Reporting Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Best Reporting on Social Accountability Best Reporting on Human Rights Editor of the Year Each category focuses on a different aspect of high-quality journalism and seeks entries that demonstrate meaningful contribution to public understanding and social change. Best Fact-check Award This category recognises high-quality fact-checking work that helps audiences distinguish reliable information from false, misleading, or manipulated claims.

Strong entries should demonstrate:

Rigorous verification. Use of credible evidence and sources. Clear presentation of findings. Originality. Public-interest value. Meaningful impact on public understanding. Best Health Reporting Award The Best Health Reporting category recognises journalism that provides valuable reporting on health-related issues. Entries should demonstrate strong reporting standards and contribute to greater public understanding of health challenges, policies, services, or related issues. Best Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Award This category recognises journalism addressing climate change and environmental issues. Relevant reporting may highlight environmental challenges, climate impacts, responses, policies, community experiences, or solutions. The award emphasises journalism that demonstrates public value and contributes to greater understanding of environmental issues. Best Solutions Journalism Reporting Award Solutions journalism focuses on responses to social problems rather than only documenting the problems themselves.

Strong entries should demonstrate:

Clear identification of a significant problem. Evidence-based examination of responses. Critical analysis of whether solutions work. Original reporting. Public-interest value. Potential or demonstrated impact. Best Community Reporting Award This category celebrates journalism that highlights issues affecting communities and gives visibility to experiences that may otherwise receive limited attention. Entries should demonstrate meaningful engagement with communities and show how the reporting contributes to public understanding or positive change. Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence This category recognises impactful journalism covering sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Strong reporting should demonstrate responsible journalism, investigative rigour, sensitivity to affected individuals, and clear public-interest value. Best Reporting on Social Accountability This category recognises journalism that promotes accountability in public institutions, organisations, and decision-making processes. Entries may demonstrate how journalism has helped: For the Editor of the Year award, nominees must additionally be full-time editors with at least five years of professional experience and must be nominated by their media organisation. Submission Rules Applicants should carefully follow the entry requirements.

Key rules include:

Applicants may submit one entry per category. An applicant can submit a maximum of two entries overall. Entries can be submitted in any of the region’s languages. Non-English submissions must include an English translation. All entries must include a statement explaining the use of AI in the reporting process. Stories funded by CJID/DUBAWA are not eligible. Employees and relatives of CJID/DUBAWA are not eligible. These requirements are important because failure to comply with the submission rules may affect eligibility. AI Disclosure Requirement One notable requirement for the 2026 awards is the need for applicants to provide a statement regarding AI use in the reporting process. Applicants should clearly explain whether and how artificial intelligence tools were used while producing the submitted work. This requirement promotes transparency around the role of AI in contemporary journalism and allows judges to understand how technology contributed to the reporting process. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their strongest eligible journalism work and submit it according to the award requirements.

A practical application process involves:

Select the appropriate category. Choose the award category that most closely matches the subject and strengths of your work. Confirm eligibility. Verify that you are based in one of the eight eligible West African countries and meet any category-specific requirements. Choose your strongest entry. Applicants should submit work that demonstrates originality, investigative quality, public interest, and impact. Check the submission limit. You may submit one entry per category and no more than two entries overall. Prepare translations if requir